BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and has been associated with oxidative stress and failure of antioxidant compensatory mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To determine the plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women. The levels of TAC and MDA were also correlated with clinical severity of preeclampsia. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional study comprising 144 subjects, 72 preeclamptic and 72 age, parity and gestational age matched normotensive pregnant controls were recruited. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Venous samples were taken, and plasma was analyzed using ELISA technique for TAC, and Colorimetry for MDA. Data was analyzed using Stata 13 statistical software. Variables were expressed in median and interquartile range, mean±SD. Comparison of groups was done using Mann-Whitney U, student t-test and ANOVA test. Correlation was with Spearman’s coefficient and p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant